Ski clamping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ski clamping apparatus for holding one or a pair of snow skis while sharpening and waxing the skis. A pair of identical clamps are mounted on a support, such as on a top of a desk or a cabinet, with the clamps spaced apart for supporting the ski or skis at longitudinally spaced areas. Each clamp has three clamping sections, with the first section holding a ski at the longitudinal edges thereof and with the bottom of the ski facing upwardly to permit filing and waxing of the bottom of the ski. The second and third clamping sections each hold one of a pair of skis at the same elevation with the skis spaced parallel and resting on the lower edges thereof whereby the upper edges of the skis face upwardly. With such an arrangement the edges of both skis can be sharpened simultaneously by an implement mounted at a predetermined angle to the exposed upper edges.

United States Patent [191 Campbell 1 Nov. 25, 1975 SKI CLAMPING APPARATUS James B. Campbell, 5215 Arden Ave., Warren, Mich. 48092 221 Filed: Sept. 19,1974

21 Appl. No.: 507,351

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. CL 269/43; 269/101; 269/153;

269/219; 269/321 W [51] Int. Cl. B25B 1/20 [58] Field of Search 269/4, 9-10,

269/37, 40, 43,101,153, 218, 219, 321 W; 51/228; 280/1137 C, 111.37 T

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,781,997 11/1930 Berezowski...., 269/43 2,490,843 12/1949 Sordi 269/9 2,643,563 6/1953 Gaudreau 269/218 3,642,269 2/1972 Ladd 269/43 3,719,008 7 3/1973 Mayers 269/321 W 3,778,048 12/1973 Szohatsky 269/43 3,826,482 7/1974 Tourangeau.. 269/321 W 3,834,250 9/1974 269/43 3,854,712 12/1974 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson Attorney, Agent, or FirmCullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor [5 7] ABSTRACT A ski clamping apparatus for holding one or a pair of snow skis while sharpening and waxing the skis. A pair of identical clamps are mounted on a support, such as on a top of a desk or a cabinet, with the clamps spacedapart for supporting the ski or skis at longitudinally spaced areas. Each clamp has three clamping sections, with the first section holding a ski at the longitudinal edges" thereof and with the bottom of the ski facing upwardly to permit filing and waxing of the bottom of the ski. The second and third clamping sections each hold one of a pair of skis at the same elevation with the skis spaced parallel and resting on the lower I edges thereof whereby the upper edges of the skis face upwardly. With such an arrangement the edges of both' skis can be sharpened simultaneously by an implement mounted at a predetermined angle to the exposed upper edges.

17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,921,967

SKI CLAMPING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

The invention relates to a ski clamping apparatus for holding one or a pair of snow skis in proper alignment to facilitate filing and waxing.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

The use of steel edges on skis has been common for more than 30 years. The desire to dress or hone these edges to maintain their gripping power on icy slopes has increased over the last few years with the great increase in skiing enthusiasm and the resulting deterioration of conditions on the hard-traveled slopes. Sharpening of the steel edges has mostly been performed one at a time, usually held in a common bench vise. Both metal files and abrasive stones have been utilized. A common difficulty has been in maintaining the abrasive instrument at the exact constant angle for sharpening.

Ski sharpening apparatuses of a most general nature and use similar to the one disclosed herein are the subject of prior U.S. Pats. to Morrison, No. 702,145 of June 10, 1902; Roth, No. 3,608,885 of Sept. 28, I971; Ladd, No. 3,642,269 of Feb. 15, 1972; Mayers, No. 3,719,008 of Mar. 6, 1973; and Szohatsky, No. 3,778,048 of Dec. 11, 1973, but lack disclosure of structural features and functional attributes of the improvement described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention the ski clamping apparatus consists of a pair of clamps which are adapted to be attached to a support such as the top of a desk or a cabinet. The clamps are aligned and are provided with the first, second and third clamping sections. The first clamping section holds a ski at the longitudinal edges thereof, with the bottom of the ski facing upwardly. The second and third clamping sections each hold one of a pair of skis at a predetermined elevation with the skis arranged parallel and resting on the lower edges thereof whereby the upper edges of the skis face upwardly to permit the upper edges of the skis to be sharpened simultaneously.

Each of the clamps are mounted on the support by manually operated clamping means. Each of the clamping sections includes means for gripping the skis at Iongitudinally spaced points, with manually operated means provided for urging and maintaining the abutment surfaces of each clamping section in the required position to hold one or a pair of skis.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a ski clamping apparatus consisting of a pair of clamps which are of simple construction, economical to manufacture, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one of the clamps of the ski clamping apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical view, partly in section, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partly in section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps spaced apart, with the first clamping sections of the clamps aligned to hold portions of longitudinally extending edges of the ski, with the bottom surface of the ski facing upwardly; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps spaced apart, with the second and third clamping sections of the clamp aligned and maintaining a pair of skis in parallel relation to permit the sharpening of the edges of the skis.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The ski clamping apparatus 10 consists of a pair of clamps 12, each clamp being of identical construction. The clamps 12 are relatively small and compact which permit them to be transported in a traveling case, luggage or bag utilized by a skier. This makes it possible for the ardent ski enthusiast to condition his own skis right at the ski area. Each clamp 12 is adapted to be mounted on a support such as the top panel of a desk or cabinet (with the drawer removed) as represented by the numeral 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each clamp 12 is provided with a base plate 15 and with a clamping plate 68 to be subsequently described. The base plate 15 has a vertically upstanding web 16 provided with a pair of parallel sides or surfaces 18 and 20. The web 16 has a top edge 22, a bottom edge 24 and a pair of side edges 26, 28 and is arranged perpendicular to the horizontal support flange 30 which is secured to the bottom edge 24 of the web 16. The support flange 30 is provided with a soft or yieldable backing strip 32 made, as an example, from felt which engages the top surface of the support 14 as shown inv FIGS. 1 and 2.

Means are provided for mounting the clamp 12 on the support 14, with the support flange 30 engaging the support 14 and include a generally L-shaped bracket 36 having the free end of the longest leg 38 welded or secured to the lower surface of the support flange 30. The shortest leg 40 is spaced from the support flange 30 and the free end thereof is provided with a transversely extending threaded opening 42 in which is located a threaded actuating rod 44. The inner end of the 46 having a yieldable strip thereon, not shown, to prevent marring of the support 14. The other end of the actuating rod 44 is provided with a threaded nut 48. An opening extends through the rod 44 and nut 48 and has an actuating handle 50 therein. The clamp 12 is placed on the support 14 after which time the actuating handle 50 is rotated in a direction to move the actuating rod 44 vertically and to urge the abutment 46 against the lower side of the support 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The side edges 26, 28 of the web 16 are provided with first and second flanges S4, 56 respectively which are spaced apart and extend in opposite directions from the web 16 and are perpendicular thereto. A top flange 58 is secured to the top edge 22 of the web 16 for supporting the ski or the workpiece S. The flange 58 is covered with a yieldable or soft strip 60.

The top flange 58 and the first flange 54 are located at the side 20 of the web 16 while the second flange 56 and clamping plate 68 are located on the other side 18 of the web 16. The top flange 58 is parallel to the support flange 30 and each of the flanges 30, 54, 56 and 58 are perpendicular to the web 16.

The end of the top flange 58 remote from the first flange 54 is provided with an abutment 64 forming a first stop surface for the ski or workpiece S. The elongated clamping plate 68 is mounted on the base plate adjacent the web 16 and is movable relative to the second flange 56. Plate 68 is guided on a rail or guide element 67 secured to the web 16. The plate 68 has a horizontal flange 69 overlying and spaced from the top flange 58. The edge of the flange 69 opposite the abutment 64 forms an abutment 71 having a second stop surface and cooperates with the abutment 64 to form the first clamping section for the ski S as shown in FIG. 1.

Actuating means are interposed between the base plate 15 and the clamping plate 68 for moving the clamping plate 68 on the rail 67 resulting in relative movement of the abutments 64 and 71. The actuating means includes a tubular bushing 70 secured to the side 18 of the web 16. The second flange 56 is provided with an opening 72 which is aligned with the opening in the tubular bushing 70. A washer 74 is welded to the outside surface of the second flange 56 and surrounds the opening 72. A threaded rod 76 is located in the opening 72 in the second flange 56 and in the tubular bushing 70 and has the inner end thereof secured to the clamp plate 68 by welding or other conventional means as indicated by the numeral 78 in FIG. 1. A second washer 80 is located on the threaded rod 76 which also has a knurled handle 82 of circular configuration threaded thereon. Rotation of the handle 82 is effective to move the abutment surfaces 64, 71 of the first clamping secthe clamping plate 68 to move freely in a horizontal direction when actuated, thereby moving flange 69 relative to the fixed abutment 64.

The rearward portion of the clamping plate 68 is provided with a first ear or flange 98 which is spaced from a second ear or flange 100. The ears 98, 100 are located at right angles to the main portion of the plate 68 and extend in a direction parallel to the first and second flanges 54, 56 at the base plate 15.

The ear 98 is provided with a felt strip, not shown, to prevent marring of the ski S. In addition, the upper portion of the first flange 54 has a felt strip thereon, not

shown. The first flange 54 and the ear 98 cooperate to form a second clamping section. The horizontal surface of the plate 68 between the strut 94 and the ear 98 is designated by the numeral 102. Such surface 102 provides a locating and leveling surface for the ski or workpiece S. Rotation of knob 82 on rod 76 is effective to move the ear 98 relative to the first flange 54 which is fixed.

The clamping plate 68 further includes a third clamping section which includes the ear 100 having a felt strip thereon, not shown, which cooperates with a movable clamping abutment 106 to locate and to maintain a ski S on its edge therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The rearwardmost portion of the clamping plate 68 includes a strut 108 having a nut 110 welded thereto. The nut 110 is located rearwardly of and is spaced from the ear 100. An actuating screw 112 is located in the threaded nut 110. The inner end of the screw 112 is provided with the movable abutment 106. The outer end of the rod 112 is provided with a nut 114. An opening extends through the nut 114 and rod 112 through which an actuating handle 116 is provided. Rotation of the handle 116 is effective to move the abutment 106 towards or away from the car 100.

The horizontal surface 118 on plate 68 is located between ear and strut 108. Horizontal surfaces 102 and, 118 are at the same elevation and each surface is 1 mounted on the support as described previously and in l the spaced relationship illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Each clamp 12 is of identical construction and thus when the clamps 12 are mounted on the support 14, spaced longitudinally apart, the top flanges 58 of the clamps 12 are horizontal and lie in the same horizontal plane. The first clamping section described previously includes the top flange 58, the fixed abutment 64 and the movable abutment 71 as illustrated in FIG. 5. When it is required to flat file and wax the bottom of a ski S, the clamps 12 are arranged as just described and in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. The ski S is placed be tween the abutments 64 and clamping flanges 69, with the bottom of the ski S facing upwardly. Thereafter the actuating means of each clamp including the rod 76.

and handle 82 is actuated so as to clamp the longitudinal edges of the ski S and thus and thus hold the ski S in a fixed position as illustrated in FIG. 5. The clamps 12 are operated independently.

After one of the skis S has been filed to remove burrs, to obtain a sharp corner and then waxed, it is removed from the apparatus 10 and the second ski S is placed in the first clamping section. Thereafter the second ski S is filed and waxed as is well known in the art.

When the bottom surfaces of both skis S have been filed and waxed, it is then necessary to file the edges of the skis S to insure right angle sharpening. This operation is accomplished by utilizing the second and third clamping sections. The skis S are placed on the longituapparatus 10 and then reinserted in the clamps 12 with i the other edges of the skis S facing upwardly for subsequent edge filing as is well known in the art.

With the present invention, a skier can tune the skis to his personal and exacting requirements. The clamps can be mounted on most any flat surface to permit flat filing, waxing, scraping, polishing and edge filing of the skis.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A clamp adapted to be mounted on a support for holding a workpiece comprising a base plate having a web which is provided with a pair of sides, said web having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of side edges, a support flange secured to the bottom edge of said web, means for mounting said base plate on the support with said support flange engaging same, the side edges of said web being provided with first and second flanges which are spaced apart and extend in opposite directions from said web, a top flange secured to said web at the top edge thereof and forming a surface for supporting the workpiece, said top flange and said first flange being located at one of the sides of said web, the end of said top flange remote from said first flange being provided with an abutmentforming a first stop surface for the workpiece, said second flange being located at the other side of said web, a clamp plate mounted on said base plate adjacent said other side of said web and movable relative to said second flange, first actuating means interposed between said base plate and said clamp plate for moving said clamp plate, said clamp plate including at the upper edge thereof a clamping flange which extends across said top flange, said clamping flange having an abutment forming a second stop surface for the workpiece and which cooperates with said first stop surface to form a first clamping section, said clamping flange being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said actuating means so as to move said second stop surface relative to said first stop surface to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.

2. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein'a second clamping section is provided comprising a first slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate, a first ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, said first ear extending in an opposite direction from and being arranged parallel to said first flange, said first ear and said first flange having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a workpiece therebetween, said first ear being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said first actuating means so as to move it relative to said -first flange to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.

3. The clamp defined in claim 2, wherein a third clamping section is provided comprising a second slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate which is spaced from said first slot, a second car secured to said clamp plate adjacent said second slot, a movable abutment carried by said clamp plate and arranged parallel to said second ear, said second ear and said movable abutment having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a workpiece therebetween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said second slot for moving said movable abutment relative to said second ear to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.

4. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said first actuating means comprises a tubular bushing secured to the other side of said web, an opening in said second flange aligned with the opening in said tubular bushing, a threaded rod secured to said clamp plate and extending through said tubular bushing and through the opening in said second flange, and a knob mounted on said threaded rod exteriorly of said base plate and said second flange.

5. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said base plate on the support comprises a mounting bracket having a pair of legs, one of said with the end of said clamp screw closest to said support flange being provided with a support engaging abutment, said screw being rotatable and longitudinally movable to permit said support engaging abutment to be moved towards or away from said support flange to mount the clamp on or to remove the clamp from the support, with the support flange adapted to engage one side of the support and the support engaging abutment adapted to engage the other side of the support.

6. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said top flange and said support flange are parallel.

7. The clamp defined in claim 6, wherein said top flange and said support flange are arranged perpendicular to said web.

8. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said side flanges are parallel.

9. The clamp defined in claim 8, wherein said side flanges are arranged perpendicular to said web,

10.'The clamp defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second ears and said movable abutment are parallel to said first flange.

11. The clamp defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second ears are perpendicular to said clamp plate.

12. The clamp definedin claim 1, wherein said clamp plate is elongated, said web being provided with a guide element, the lower edge of said clamp plate being engageable with said guide element.

13. The clamp defined in claim 12, wherein the end of said clamp plate closest to said second flange is provided with a pair of arms, said first actuating means comprising a tubular bushing secured to the other side of said web, said arms being spaced apart to permit them to move along opposite sides of said bushing, an opening in said second flange aligned with the opening in said tubular bushing, a threaded rod having one end secured to clamp plate at a place rearwardly of said arms, said rod extending through said tubular bushing and through the opening in said second flange, and a knob mounted on said threaded rod exteriorlyofsaid base plate and said second flange. I

14. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein another clamping section is provided comprising a slotin the upper edge of said clamp plate, anear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, a movable abutment carried by said clamp plate and arranged parallel to said ear, said ear and said movable abutment having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold relative workpiece therebetween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said slot for moving said movable abutment relativee to said ear to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.

15. The combination of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps for supporting intermediate portions of a longitudinally extending ski, said clamps being spaced apart and mounted on a horizontal support, each clamp comprising a base plate having a web which is provided with a pair of sides, said web having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of side edges, a support flange secured to the bottom edge of said web, means for mounting said base plate on the support with said support flange engaging same, the side edges of said web being provided with first and second flanges which are spaced apart and extend in opposite direc-' tions from said web, a top flange secured to said web at the top edge thereof and forming a surface for supporting the ski, said top flange and said first flange being located at one of the sides of said web, the end of said top flange remote from said first flange being provided with an abutment forming a first stop surface for the ski, said second flange being located at the other side of said web, a clamp plate mounted on said base plate adjacent said other side of said web and movable relative to said second flange, first actuating means interposed between said base plate and said clamp plate for moving said clamp plate, said clamp plate including at the upper edge thereof a clamping flange which extends across said top flange, said clamping flange having an abutment forming a second stop surface for the ski and which cooperates with said first stop surface to form a first clamping section, said clamping flange being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said first actuating means, the top flanges of said clamps being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane and adapted to support the intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with the ground engaging surface of the ski facing upwardly, said first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the second stop surfaces of the clamping flanges against one longitudinal edge of the ski, with the first stop surfaces engaging the other longitudinal edge of the ski.

16. The combination of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said clamps includes a second clamping section comprising a first slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate, a first ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, said first ear extending in an opposite direction from and being arranged parallel to saidfirst flange, said first car and said first flange having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a ski therebetween, saidfirst ear being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said actuating means, the first slots of said second clamping sections being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane, said bottoms of the slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with said bottoms of the slots adapted to engage one longitudinal edge of the ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the ski facing upwardly, the first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the first ears of the clamp plates against one side of the ski, with the work engaging surfaces on said first flanges engaging the other side of the ski. I

17. The combination of a ski clamping apparatustween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said second slot for moving said movable abutment relative to said second ear, the first slots of said second clamping sections being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said first slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane, said bottoms of said first slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with said bottoms of said first slots adapted to engage one longitudinal edge of the ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the ski facing upwardly, the first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the first ears of the clamp plates against one side of the ski, with the work engaging surfaces on said first flanges engaging the other side of the ski, the second slots of said third clamping section being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said second slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane as the bottoms of said first slots, said bottoms of said second slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of a second longitudinally extending ski of like construction as the ski in said first slots, with said bottoms of said second slotsengaging one longitudinal edge of the second ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the second ski facing upwardly, said second actuating means of said clamp plates against one side of the second ski, with the other side of the second ski. 

1. A clamp adapted to be mounted on a support for holding a workpiece comprising a base plate having a web which is provided with a pair of sides, said web having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of side edges, a support flange secured to the bottom edge of said web, means for mounting said base plate on the support with said support flange engaging same, the side edges of said web being provided with first and second flanges which are spaced apart and extend in opposite directions from said web, a top flange secured to said web at the top edge thereof and forming a surface for supporting the workpiece, said top flange and said first flange being located at one of the sides of said web, the end of said top flange remote from said first flange being provided with an abutment forming a first stop surface for the workpiece, said second flange being located at the other side of said web, a clamp plate mounted on said base plate adjacent said other side of said web and movable relative to said second flange, first actuating means interposed between said base plate and said clamp plate for moving said clamp plAte, said clamp plate including at the upper edge thereof a clamping flange which extends across said top flange, said clamping flange having an abutment forming a second stop surface for the workpiece and which cooperates with said first stop surface to form a first clamping section, said clamping flange being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said actuating means so as to move said second stop surface relative to said first stop surface to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.
 2. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein a second clamping section is provided comprising a first slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate, a first ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, said first ear extending in an opposite direction from and being arranged parallel to said first flange, said first ear and said first flange having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a workpiece therebetween, said first ear being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said first actuating means so as to move it relative to said first flange to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.
 3. The clamp defined in claim 2, wherein a third clamping section is provided comprising a second slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate which is spaced from said first slot, a second ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said second slot, a movable abutment carried by said clamp plate and arranged parallel to said second ear, said second ear and said movable abutment having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a workpiece therebetween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said second slot for moving said movable abutment relative to said second ear to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.
 4. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said first actuating means comprises a tubular bushing secured to the other side of said web, an opening in said second flange aligned with the opening in said tubular bushing, a threaded rod secured to said clamp plate and extending through said tubular bushing and through the opening in said second flange, and a knob mounted on said threaded rod exteriorly of said base plate and said second flange.
 5. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said base plate on the support comprises a mounting bracket having a pair of legs, one of said legs being secured to the bottom of said support flange and the other of said legs being spaced from said support flange, a portion of said other leg being provided with a threaded opening having an axis which is perpendicular to said support flange, a manually operated clamp screw extending through said threaded opening, with the end of said clamp screw closest to said support flange being provided with a support engaging abutment, said screw being rotatable and longitudinally movable to permit said support engaging abutment to be moved towards or away from said support flange to mount the clamp on or to remove the clamp from the support, with the support flange adapted to engage one side of the support and the support engaging abutment adapted to engage the other side of the support.
 6. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said top flange and said support flange are parallel.
 7. The clamp defined in claim 6, wherein said top flange and said support flange are arranged perpendicular to said web.
 8. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said side flanges are parallel.
 9. The clamp defined in claim 8, wherein said side flanges are arranged perpendicular to said web.
 10. The clamp defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second ears and said movable abutment are parallel to said first flange.
 11. The clamp defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second ears are perpendicular to said clamp plate.
 12. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein said clamp plate is elongated, said web being provided with a guide element, the lower edge of said clamp plate being engageable with said guide element.
 13. The clamp defined in claIm 12, wherein the end of said clamp plate closest to said second flange is provided with a pair of arms, said first actuating means comprising a tubular bushing secured to the other side of said web, said arms being spaced apart to permit them to move along opposite sides of said bushing, an opening in said second flange aligned with the opening in said tubular bushing, a threaded rod having one end secured to clamp plate at a place rearwardly of said arms, said rod extending through said tubular bushing and through the opening in said second flange, and a knob mounted on said threaded rod exteriorly of said base plate and said second flange.
 14. The clamp defined in claim 1, wherein another clamping section is provided comprising a slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate, an ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, a movable abutment carried by said clamp plate and arranged parallel to said ear, said ear and said movable abutment having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold relative workpiece therebetween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said slot for moving said movable abutment relativee to said ear to hold or to release a workpiece therebetween.
 15. The combination of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps for supporting intermediate portions of a longitudinally extending ski, said clamps being spaced apart and mounted on a horizontal support, each clamp comprising a base plate having a web which is provided with a pair of sides, said web having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of side edges, a support flange secured to the bottom edge of said web, means for mounting said base plate on the support with said support flange engaging same, the side edges of said web being provided with first and second flanges which are spaced apart and extend in opposite directions from said web, a top flange secured to said web at the top edge thereof and forming a surface for supporting the ski, said top flange and said first flange being located at one of the sides of said web, the end of said top flange remote from said first flange being provided with an abutment forming a first stop surface for the ski, said second flange being located at the other side of said web, a clamp plate mounted on said base plate adjacent said other side of said web and movable relative to said second flange, first actuating means interposed between said base plate and said clamp plate for moving said clamp plate, said clamp plate including at the upper edge thereof a clamping flange which extends across said top flange, said clamping flange having an abutment forming a second stop surface for the ski and which cooperates with said first stop surface to form a first clamping section, said clamping flange being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said first actuating means, the top flanges of said clamps being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane and adapted to support the intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with the ground engaging surface of the ski facing upwardly, said first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the second stop surfaces of the clamping flanges against one longitudinal edge of the ski, with the first stop surfaces engaging the other longitudinal edge of the ski.
 16. The combination of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said clamps includes a second clamping section comprising a first slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate, a first ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said slot, said first ear extending in an opposite direction from and being arranged parallel to said first flange, said first ear and said first flange having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a ski therebetween, said first ear being movable with said clamp plate upon actuation of said actuating means, the first slots of said second clamping sections being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said Slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane, said bottoms of the slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with said bottoms of the slots adapted to engage one longitudinal edge of the ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the ski facing upwardly, the first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the first ears of the clamp plates against one side of the ski, with the work engaging surfaces on said first flanges engaging the other side of the ski.
 17. The combination of a ski clamping apparatus having a pair of clamps as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said clamps includes a third clamping section comprising a second slot in the upper edge of said clamp plate which is spaced from said first slot, a second ear secured to said clamp plate adjacent said second slot, a movable abutment carried by said clamp plate and arranged parallel to said second ear, said second ear and said movable abutment having work engaging surfaces and adapted to hold a ski therebetween, and second actuating means carried by said clamp plate adjacent said second slot for moving said movable abutment relative to said second ear, the first slots of said second clamping sections being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said first slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane, said bottoms of said first slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of the longitudinally extending ski, with said bottoms of said first slots adapted to engage one longitudinal edge of the ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the ski facing upwardly, the first actuating means of said clamps being operated to move the first ears of the clamp plates against one side of the ski, with the work engaging surfaces on said first flanges engaging the other side of the ski, the second slots of said third clamping section being longitudinally aligned, with the bottoms of said second slots being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane as the bottoms of said first slots, said bottoms of said second slots being adapted to support intermediate portions of a second longitudinally extending ski of like construction as the ski in said first slots, with said bottoms of said second slots engaging one longitudinal edge of the second ski and with the other longitudinal edge of the second ski facing upwardly, said second actuating means of said clamp plates against one side of the second ski, with the work engaging surfaces of the second ears engaging the other side of the second ski. 